Our unpredictable life always gives us many surprises.
Whenever we think it'll be good, it's never good. Whenever we think it'll be bad, it's always bad.
Whenever we give kindness, we becomes hated by others. And thus, we humans will never be able to control the life since it's beyond our limits except for the God in Heaven.
But I have never thought of it like that as these things only happens for our good.
With this, I, Kyle, lived not only poor but also poorly without emotions back then, but one day, everything changed....
When I thought my life has no worth, but I was wrong. In another new day of my life, a power awakened in me — I could see numbers over people's head.
I've wasted 17 years of my life, and I awoke this strange and confusing power of seeing numbers which differed from others and it changed every time I pass by them like an invisible being. Weird, right?
However, I wonder what is it? You're wondering too, right? What could it be?
Their deposit? The lies they had told? The days they had left to live? The number of times they feel mistreated? Or... it's a number depicting, number of times they regretted something in their life...?
Regrets.
My only regret is that I'm born in this cold yet warm world. However, if I'm here, there should be a purpose or reason for my existence, right? But, there's none. A smile never appeared in my life, and I don't even feel anything. There's no one with me. I wonder what's the meaning of this power given to me when I don't even knew the purpose of using it...
With these blank thoughts, I walked, still seeing other people's regrets as numbers above their head.
I crossed the road, and no one noticed me. I stood under the shed of a store to take shelter from the rain.
I said, "Rain is quite heavy. I guess sky crying for every person in this world who got abandoned, just like me."
I didn't think of anything and still watched the people and the numbers.
("The man who is sitting in the bench has number 20, that woman who's talking in the phone has the number 13.")
Numbers remained same and didn't changed until I've walked past by these people. However, it would be good if everything goes well and blank.
But it didn't.
As I looked straight across the other side of the road, I saw something strange, very strange — It shocked me — Since I can see their regrets as numbers, it should've been like that, right? But no. I said, "How.. can it be possible?"
—I saw a girl, who's around my age, with no number above her head.
She was sitting bench and was all alone. Her straight black hair, empty black eyes and pale skin — She didn't looked good but was smiling looking at the rain.
I said, "This girl has no number above her head, does it means, she regrets nothing in her life?"
From that moment, I got curious about this girl.
I thought she was sheltering herself from the rain but she didn't leave even after the rain stopped. So, I walked to her and talked with her for a moment, and we had a long and harmonious conversation. I introduced ourselves to each other and her name is Anna. She was just like a small child talking happily, laughing and smiling. It would be rude if I didn't appreciate this character of her.
I said, "It's quite strange that you're talking with me, a stranger, with ease. You could've rejected me."
"I couldn't because you're the one who appeared before me."
"(embarrassed) Yes, you're right."
"But still, it was good to know you. Since I don't have much time left, I'll never regret anyone who's willing to have a good conversation with me."
Her words confused me. I asked her if there's anything else she regrets in her life and she answered — "There's nothing."
It's quite confusing and strange to think that a girl like her is talking about the irony of life through a smile. But there's something in her which reflects my life too — the emptiness.
So, I've decided. Even if my life is worthless, I'll make her life worthy of happiness. And this will be my goal.
Later, i asked her if I can see her again and she told me to come by the city park tomorrow. It's the quiet place where she comes by always.
I've never felt such emotions ever and it's quite different from my lonely 17 years. But, when she said she don't have much time left, it triggered me. However, I'll try to be positive for this time. I'll never regret being positive.
Soon, Anna and I started to see each other. We became close friends and spent our time together like friends. We played, give eachother surprises, exchanged gifts and did a lot more.
I can say that we both have made special moments together but it was Anna who enjoyed a lot. Her childlike innocence always take away my heart but a strange feeling wield have developed into my heart. And I get it why.....
.....
(In Evening; the City park)
"I've never thought being friends with people will bring this gladness in my heart! It's all thanks to you Kyle. Thank you for reaching out to me. I enjoyed a lot this week because of you."
"Being friends with you was enough for me. Please don't thank me. If you like we can—"
She didn't heard me. She looked at the settling sun and said, "The sun is setting. I guess it's time."
"Do you want to go home? I can drop you—"
But all of a sudden, I saw she collapsed on the ground. I called out to her but she wasn't replying. And I saw — Her nose was bleeding.
It terrified me. So I hurriedly called the hospital. The Ambulance arrived and took Anna. I went with them too because I want to stay by her side. I don't know about what she's fighting for but I want to help her.
And, that's what I thought....
However, when I reached to hospital, I came to know about Anna's suffering, which was much greater than me — She was diagnosed with Brain Cancer.
Her family doctor knew Anna and was sad. He said, "She was once a bright child. But it's sad to see her suffering with such a fatal disease. She lived with her grandparents and was a poor child. But still, she always remained happy."
Like that, the doctor told me about Anna's life. Her original parents died and her adopted family never accepted her. When she was just 14, she came to know about her disease and hidden it from everyone because she thought it's a bother. However, now I came to know about what she actually meant. She's — going to die soon.
Doctor told me that her disease can't be treated because it has surpassed that time period already. He always tried to speak for it to Anna but she insisted in no treatment which devastated the doctor himself.
However, the doctor said, "But, it's more than enough to find out there's someone who cares about Anna. You said you're her friend, right? I thank you, for being with Anna. I hope she has made a lot of good memories being with you."
Hearing him, made me feel guilty towards Anna. I've never asked about her well being, how come I've helped her? But still, even if I knew about her disease, I can't do anything.
That night, I stayed with Anna and cried.
"I've never thought we would end up like like.... "
"Yes, it's true...."
I heard Anna. She was awake.
She said, "Sorry, for showing you this side of mine... but when I said I don't have much time left, I was going to die soon..... But, every of those moments I've spent with my grandparents, and you, I'll never regret it.. I'm going to miss you, Kyle. But please, don't miss me, just keep living because, your life worth living."
And that's when I saw something — I saw the number 1 above her. So, she regrets that, she's dying?
I said with a bitter smile, "You'll leave this world soon and says to miss you not, isn't it selfish, Anna? I know, you might've regretted dying, right?"
After a while, she said, "Yes, I've regretted something. But, it's not death cause my life is fulfilled by all the love and happiness. The only thing I regret that, why I didn't met you before... If I've met you before, we might've become more closer than we're now....
Her words were piercing deep into my heart.
The goal which I've set for myself, I've achieved it. But I didn't wanted this ending. Then again, thinking back to what I was then and what I'm now... it's a great change all because of Anna. She came into my life for good and left with a big impression.
One day, everyone has to die. Death is inevitable for us humans but, I'm still looking for my future.
"Soon, I might see you above too, Anna."
......
(The End)
